The AFL will launch an investigation into an incident in which a goal umpire was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from the crowd during Carlton's high-stakes clash with St Kilda. The incident happened during the second quarter of the round-24 match at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Goal umpire Steven Piperno suffered a cut to the back of the head and had to be replaced during the second quarter of the round-24 match at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. The incident took place in front of the Carlton cheer squad, with a significant portion of Blues fans incensed by a one-sided free-kick count at the time.
St Kilda appeared to have the rub of the green through the first half of a contest Carlton need to win to guarantee their spot in the finals. A loss would leave the door open for Fremantle to pinch eighth spot from the Blues.
Security guards and police officers were spotted talking to crowd members soon after the incident, seemingly trying to discover who had thrown the bottle. An AFL spokesperson confirmed to AAP the league would investigate.
In the television broadcast, Geelong great Joel Selwood and fellow AFL premiership player Dale Thomas agreed the perpetrator would not be welcome back at the football. “That is just an absolute disgrace,” Seven commentator Brian Taylor added. “There is just no room for that anywhere in any of our games.”
St Kilda led the free-kick count 12-1 during the second quarter and 12-3 at half-time. A section of Carlton fans broke into chants of “Bullst! Bullst!” during the second term.
Piperno was replaced by reserve goal umpire Chelsea Roffey.
Bottle Thrown From Crowd Hits Goal Umpire
The incident, which has sparked outrage and an investigation by the AFL, occurred during the second quarter of the match. A water bottle was thrown from the crowd, striking goal umpire Steven Piperno in the back of the head. The umpire sustained a cut and had to be replaced.
A Disgraceful Act
The incident has been condemned by commentators, players, and fans alike. The act of throwing a projectile at an official is not only dangerous but also completely unacceptable. The AFL has a zero-tolerance policy for such behaviour, and it is expected that the perpetrator will face a significant ban from attending future games.
Impact on Carlton's Finals Hopes
The incident overshadowed a tense match that saw Carlton's finals hopes hang in the balance. The Blues ultimately lost the game to St Kilda by two points, leaving their fate in the hands of Fremantle, who are set to play Port Adelaide later in the evening. If Fremantle win, Carlton will be eliminated from the finals race.
A Reminder of the Importance of Respect
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respect for officials, players, and fellow fans at sporting events. It is vital that everyone attending matches behaves in a responsible and respectful manner, creating a positive and safe environment for all.
What Happens Next?
The AFL is investigating the incident and will likely take action against the perpetrator. It remains to be seen what kind of sanction will be imposed, but it is likely to be significant given the seriousness of the offense. The league is committed to ensuring that all players, officials, and fans are safe and protected from such incidents.
A Dark Shadow Cast On An Exciting Game
The incident cast a dark shadow over what was otherwise an exciting and intense game. Carlton, battling against the odds with a number of key players sidelined through injury, put up a valiant fight against St Kilda. But ultimately, the Blues were undone by a controversial free kick count and a missed set shot by Brodie Kemp, who had otherwise had a good game.
The incident served as a reminder that the game of football, while known for its passion and intensity, should never be a platform for violence or disrespect. The actions of a few individuals should not be allowed to taint the enjoyment of the sport for the vast majority of fans who attend games to support their teams and witness the thrill of the contest.
The spotlight is now on the AFL to act swiftly and decisively to ensure that such incidents do not occur again. The league must send a clear message that violence and disrespect will not be tolerated, and those who engage in such behaviour will face serious consequences.
A Look at the Match
The Saints went in with a clear game plan to shut down two Carlton stars - Patrick Cripps and Jacob Weltering. You can understand the thinking with several other Blues big guns sidelined, so stopping Cripps and Weitering would go a long way to winning.
It was clear from the onset that Cripps was going to be closely checked all day by former teammate Liam Stocker. While Cripps was effective in the first half with 14 disposals, he didn’t quite have his usual influence nor could the Blues get enough supremacy through the middle to allow the skipper to go to work.
But he stepped up in a major way in the third term with 12 disposals, 11 contested, four clearances and three tackles in heroic effort - helped by Stocker getting subbed off with a groin issue. It left Saints skipper Jack Steele to do the job on Cripps, who fortunately for Blues fans, wasn’t nearly as effective as Stocker.
Meanwhile, the focus on Weitering was more through a team emphasis, with St Kilda rotating multiple opponents on him to keep the star defender constantly occupied or thinking. “They’ve done a really good job in occupying his mind so he can’t get across and be the really good defensive presence we know,” former Demons captain Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
Riewoldt pointed out that the Saints exploited Weitering by going fast out the back or luring him up the ground with their short kick, mark game. “They’ve identified Cripps is one match winner and Weitering is the other one,“ he said. “It’s their ability to go around him - Weitering has had Wilson, Wood, Jones, Owens, Sharman, Steele and Higgins on him at some point in time.”
Ross Lyon's Mark
Much like the Saints’ tactics to stop Cripps and Weitering was evident, their game plan as a whole was clear from the outset. Ross Lyon’s team played a heavy chip mark, high possession game with bulk uncontested marks - including racking up 69 of its 103 in the first half alone. It’s a style we’ve seen Lyon’s Saints exploit consistently in the back half of the season, aiding them in big wins over the likes of Sydney and Essendon. And like those teams before it, it prevented Carlton from being able to get the game on its terms for long periods; and was ultimately key to getting St Kilda the win. It’s a game plan not always pretty to watch, and has been scrutinised from the footy world at times. But you can’t argue it’s been effective in the second half of the season given the success of Lyon’s side.
“We’ve all fallen into Ross Lyon’s trap - he’s been playing pretty sexy footy for a month or so now,” Tigers champ Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy. “I reckon he’s identified he needs to go back to old Ross Lyon and make it a dour affair and a game where they take away Carlton’s strengths and play into St Kilda’s short chip game. Which has allowed them to dominate the football.”
St Kilda Hall of Fame Nick Dal Santo observed the club polished its game plan as the year went on. “I love the style the Saints have brought, which has been extremely similar to what we’ve seen the back half of this season,” he said on Fox Footy. “The uncontested mark and short kicking style of play. They don’t want to kick it to a contest, they want to maintain possession through uncontested marks as far as they can down the field until they have to go long. It hasn’t always come off, but their level of skills has clearly improved in the back half of this year allowing them to move the football.”
Carlton's Fight
Despite the loss, Carlton should be commended for their fighting spirit throughout the game. The Blues were missing a number of key players, but they still managed to put up a good fight against a strong St Kilda side.
A Turning Point
The incident involving the goal umpire serves as a reminder of the need for greater vigilance in ensuring that the game remains safe for players, officials, and fans. It is a dark stain on what was otherwise an exciting and entertaining game, but hopefully, it will serve as a catalyst for positive change.
The spotlight is now on the AFL to take strong action against the individual who threw the bottle. The league must show that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The game of football is a powerful force, and it is important that it is used for good, promoting respect and sportsmanship, rather than violence and disrespect.
Let's hope that the AFL will take the necessary steps to ensure that such incidents are a thing of the past. The game deserves better.
